A great adventure in the world of immortal cultivation

KP: In the end, all 13 contestants completed the first round of testing, and 10 of them successfully deformed the iron, but only 5 of them were able to deform it by more than half an inch.

Jeanne: So what happens to those who fail to forge? Do they lose their qualification to participate?

KP: No.

Jeanne: What is the significance of this first round of testing?

KP: This sword-forging competition is open to the public. The contestants' information will be announced to the audience in advance. Then, based on the results of the first round of tests, the organizer will give each contestant different odds, allowing the audience to place bets on who will be the final champion of the competition.

Xiao Huohuo: I’m so excited, the market is open!

Han Buli: Is this process formal?

Joan of Arc: That's something. Can I bet on myself to win?

Xiao Huohuo: You naughty sister, you think you are good enough again.

Joan of Arc: Who are you looking down on, you stinky little brother! (half annoyed)

Han Buli: Haha, a little gambling can cheer you up. Later, Lao Luo, you can bet some spirit stones on Joan of Arc as a way to cheer her up.

Romeo: I think so too. KP, I'm going to put 8000 Spirit Stones on my Zhenbao to win the championship.

KP: Where do you get so much money?

Romeo: If it’s not enough, you can owe it to me first. Lao Han will be back tomorrow anyway.

Han Buli: Damn, calm down!!!

Chapter 130: Sword Forging F4 (Day 45)

I was caught traveling and working as a yak driver today, so the update is a bit late. (Sad)

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Romeo: Lao Han, let me feel your Kun Kun (referring to the Qian Kun bag) to see if it is bulging!

Han Buli: (horrified) Damn Romeo, you can’t... you can’t do this!

Romeo: Ho ho ho, quickly take out Kun Kun, I want to have a good fight~

Han Buli: Quack! Lao Xiao, save me!

Xiao Huohuo: Hurry up and take it away. We've tasted enough. (No mercy)

KP: So, after the first round of testing, Huang Mingli led Zhen'e and the others out of the tent, through the outer corridors, and onto the competition venue. This was a narrow, willow-shaped valley, approximately one hectare in size. Dozens of caves and platforms, large and small, had been carved into the cliff face outside the valley, serving as spectator spaces. Meanwhile, more than a dozen smelting forges had been set up in the valley, their flickering fires and the escaping heat making the blood boil. In front of the forges was a stone platform, upon which lay three piles of unknown objects covered in red cloth. Judging by their shapes, they were likely the materials for refining the weapons later.

Han Buli: It has that flavor.

KP: As Joan of Arc and others entered, noisy voices were heard from the caves on both sides of the mountain. Joan of Arc looked around and found that the surrounding caves were already crowded with spectators, about five or six hundred people. In this gathering, almost half of the monks came to join in the excitement of this sword-forging competition.

KP: Joan of Arc, please observe.

Joan of Arc: Observation, 65/30, failure.

KP: So, when you looked up at the mountain wall, Joan of Arc, you seemed to catch a glimpse of a familiar figure, but there were too many people there, and when you turned around to look again, you couldn't find it.

Xiao Huohuo: It feels like this place is full of familiar faces, but my shortsighted little sister can't see a single one. (laughing)

Joan of Arc: (half annoyed) By the way, KP, speaking of observation, you just said that there are several players among the 13 players who are of high level, right? Can I observe them?

KP: You roll, and if you pass, you get additional information.

Joan of Arc: Observation, 27/30, success.

Joan of Arc: Heizi speaks!

Xiao Huohuo: Shocked.

KP: So, back in the first round of testing, Jeanne, you noticed that, besides yourself, four of the thirteen contestants had impressive forging skills (70-80% success rate). They were a middle-aged, unkempt, casual cultivator with a rough, seaweed-like hairstyle; two young cultivators dressed in cyan robes, likely from the same school; and finally, a young male disciple of the Chengtian Sect, wearing the same robes as you, who looked vaguely familiar. At this point, the Chengtian Sect disciple also noticed your gaze, frowned, and glared back at you unkindly.

Joan of Arc:? He glared at me when I knew him.

KP: You're inspired.

Joan of Arc: Inspiration, 68/60, failed.

KP: So, although you thought this fellow student looked familiar, you didn't remember anything.

Joan of Arc: Damn it!

Xiao Huohuo: You naughty sister, did you secretly offend someone in the clan while Old Han and I were away? (Pinching nose)

Joan of Arc: No, I have always been very low-key in my dealings with others.

Han Buli: Keep a low profile. (referring to beating Qin Feng to his knees and robbing him of everything in public)

Romeo: Keep a low profile. (Referring to issuing commissioned tasks and starting a production line to increase proficiency)

Xiao Huohuo: I understand. Being humble is real, but being low-key is fake.

Joan of Arc: Damn!

Romeo: Wait a minute, guys. I think I've discovered the truth.

Han Buli: Tell me.

Romeo: If my inference is correct, then this guy should be a secret admirer of Lao Xiao just like Lei Mi, but he is not as cunning as Lei Mi. So when he saw that you, Jeanne, and Lao Xiao were close, he became jealous and regarded you as a rival in love.

Xiao Huohuo:?

Joan of Arc:?

KP:?

Han Buli: Putting aside the question of how many people are secretly coveting Lao Xiao's groin, do Lao Xiao and Zhen Arc have any overt interactions?

Xiao Huohuo: Wait a minute, did you throw away the most important thing right from the start? (annoyed)

Romeo: Yes, I do. Back then, during the outer sect competition, Lao Xiao showed off his affection for Zhen De in front of everyone in the sect, calling her "good brother, good sister" all the time, which almost made Brother Xuan Zi crash.

Han Buli: Damn, it’s true.

Xiao Huohuo: If I'm not your friend, does that count as me borrowing your sword?

Romeo: There are so many people in the audience, why don't you ask others for it, but only ask Jeanne for it? This is the subtleties that reveal the true feelings.

Xiao Huohuo: Your reasoning makes me want to give you an anesthetic shot in the back of your neck. (half annoyed)

Joan of Arc: I support it. I think Lao Luo is completely talking nonsense. It is better to believe that I am the reincarnation of Qin Shi Huang, and the person on the other side is the reincarnation of Jing Ke, who wants to murder me. (half annoyed)

KP: (suppressing laughter) Okay, okay, stop guessing. Anyway, let's switch gears to Romeo. After Jeanne entered the venue, it wasn't long before you, Romeo, also squeezed into the spectator area. With your towering stature, you easily snagged a good seat. Your impressive sixth-level Qi Refining cultivation level caused the surrounding group of lower-level cultivators and sect disciples to remain silent and indignant.

Romeo: That's great~

KP: Not long after you took your seat, Romeo, you heard voices shouting nearby. You turned around and saw several staff members wearing uniforms with the words "Swordsmithing Competition" printed on them. They were driving magic tools and shuttling between the caves, shouting about the opening of the market and collecting bets.

Staff: The bets have been placed. There are thirteen contestants in total, and the highest payout is ten to one. You will make money if you buy in.

Romeo: Hehe, you came just in time. I'm going to call him and tell him I'm going to bet 8000 spirit stones on the shortest player to win.

Joan of Arc: That's enough. (annoyed)

Han Buli: Lao Luo, how dare you! If you really bet, I will just run away with the money!

Xiao Huohuo: This is the episode where Han Paopao runs the fastest. (Music)

KP: So, after hearing Romeo's loud voice, a nearby staff member turned around in surprise and soon spotted you standing out from the crowd. His eyes lit up and he quickly flew over on his magic weapon.

Staff: Hehe, this brother is really generous, but how can you just place a bet on one? You might as well take a look at the list first and then make a decision.

KP: After that, the staff member handed over a list with the basic information of the 13 contestants, and they were distributed in order from low to high according to the odds.

Romeo: All right, let me have some. (Sound of shock)

KP: The list is as follows.

Liu Yuanxing, Qi Refining Level 5, Casual Cultivator, runner-up in the last Swordsmithing Competition. His forging strength and precision are impeccable, and his Spiritual Qi-tempering blades are truly impressive. He's a well-deserved favorite to win! Current odds: 1.18 (Forging 80%, Spirit Infusion 80%)

[Qingchen, Qi Refining Level 4, Qingyun Sect cultivator, a descendant of a prominent weapon refining family, strikes the hammer steadily without losing his spiritual energy, a champion seed, current odds 1.52] (Forging 80%, Spirit Infusion 70%)

[Qing Shi, Qi Refining Level 4, Qingyun Sect monk, same as above, current odds 1.52] (Forging 70%, Spirit Infusion 80%)

[Bai Chenfei, Qi Refining Level 3, Chengtian Sect cultivator, skilled in forging, seeded player, current odds 2.24] (Forging 70%, Spirit Infusion 60%)

[Li Yan, Qi Refining Level 3, Casual Cultivator...Current odds 3.14]

[Han Feng, Qi Refining Level 4, Yaochen Valley cultivator...Current odds 3.48]

[Jean, Qi Refining Level 4, Chengtian Sect cultivator. Her forging skills fluctuate greatly, making them difficult to predict. She is suspected to have the blood of the Southern Barbarian Dwarfs. Current odds: 4.10] (Forging 59+10%, Spirit Infusion 59%)

……

Jeanne: No, the first four are fine, but why are two guys who are obviously just extras ranked above me? (half annoyed)

Han Buli: It was caused by a major forging failure. (Music)

Xiao Huohuo: Wait a minute, is there anyone who is sure that the medicine refiner is not in the wrong place? (half annoyed)

KP: Funny, funny.

Romeo: Honestly, the top players this time are pretty impressive. Lao Zhen, will they win?

Joan of Arc: We will win!

Staff: How is it, has this brother finished reading it?

Romeo: After watching it, I feel that all the contestants are very talented!

Staff: Oh, of course. Our sword-forging competition has been held for so many years and is well-known. Every session is attended by many talented participants. So I suggest you place more bets, cast a wide net and catch more fish. You are guaranteed to make money!

Romeo: Yes, that makes sense! But my mother taught me not to gamble, so I'd better not bet.

Staff:?

Han Buli:?

Xiao Huohuo: Le, Lao Luo, you are so mean.

Romeo: Hehe, I'm not going to tease little Chu Nan anymore~

Han Buli: Tsk. (half annoyed)

KP: Well, all the words and time were wasted. The staff member snatched the list back, glanced at the tall and strong Romeo dimly, as if he was comparing his strength in his mind, then he secretly spat "bad luck" and turned away in anger.

Romeo: That's Size 80! (pun intended)

Xiao Huohuo: Body size 80 grass.

KP: Soon, under the watchful eyes of the crowd on the cliff, the 13 contestants came to their respective smelting tables and stood still. Then Huang Mingli strode to the front of the valley and raised his hands high, indicating that the competition was about to begin.

Huang Mingli: Everyone! I'm so glad you've come to watch this Swordsmithing Competition today! As you can see, this year's competition has more participants than ever before, which naturally means the competition will be even more exciting! Let's look forward to the performances of the participating monks!

Huang Mingli: In addition, this conference is fortunate to have invited four weapon refining masters to attend. They are:

"He's known as the walking textbook on refining, the author of 'Introduction to Refining', and the refining master that countless newcomers can't bypass on their refining journey—Ni Ershen!"

"The youngest genius weapon refiner in the southwestern region of the continent, and the holder of the record of twelve consecutive victories in the Swordsmithing Competition—Bendari!"

"A researcher of ancient magical instruments, a living fossil of the modern era who possesses countless lost instrument-refining techniques—Wei Beike!"

"Using a spear to stop the killing, the legendary expert who killed thousands of people and mastered all kinds of swords and magic weapons, Yidaoge!"

Han Buli: Nelson? Daliben? David Baker? Gogo?

Xiao Huohuo: My forging sword F4!

Chapter 131 Anyway, let’s beat the horse first (Day45)

KP: Along with Huang Mingli's loud shout, the four legendary weapon-refining masters also walked out of the valley tunnel one after another and appeared in the sight of Romeo and Joan of Arc (standing on tiptoe).

Joan of Arc: Standing on tiptoe is unnecessary!

KP: (Comedy) The one walking in front is Ni Ershen, a middle-aged monk who looks to be around fifty years old. His hair is gray, but his eyes are sharp and he is full of energy. His face is stern but warm, like a stern mentor, and people can't help but respect him.

KP: The next person to appear was Bendari, who set a record of 12 championships in the sword-forging competition. He looked much younger, probably only in his early thirties, with a thin build and a gentle smile on his face. Rather than a weapon refiner, he looked more like a scholar, and as his name suggests, he was well-educated and well-mannered.

KP: Following behind Bendali is Wei Beike, who is said to specialize in ancient weapon refining methods. As his name suggests, he is the exact opposite of Bendali. Wei Beike sounds like a dashing swordsman, but he is actually a short and fat middle-aged monk with a playful goatee, looking very friendly.

KP: Walking at the end of the group, the middle-aged monk named Daogo wore the most gentle and humble smile. Upon reaching the center of the field, he even clasped his hands together and saluted the spectators on the cliffs on either side, as well as the contestants within. This instilled a sense of familiarity. But experienced observers would have noticed that the subtle outline of his muscles beneath his black garb, and the sharp murderous intent that occasionally flashed in his eyes, reminded everyone that his reputation as the "Thousand-Man Slayer" wasn't just a rumor.

Xiao Huohuo: This is how people from Changsha are. (Laughing)

KP: When these four referees appeared, the atmosphere in the audience instantly became lively.